Yesterday morning, February 16th, the first winter aconite showed their cheerful blooms along my front walk. Not only are they the earliest blooms in my garden, but they come up with their flowers already to open and such a bright sunshine yellow! Very welcome in February.

Once fruit has set on the trees we spray with sulphur, a natural fungicide that helps prevent diseases, mixed with a fine powdered clay that is harmless but deters insects that bore into the trees and fruit. The trees need to be sprayed weekly with these substances until harvest. After petal fall the fruit on the trees [...]

The first spring flowers in the garden are always most welcome. After a winter of sustained cold, snow and ice, we are all especially ready this year for warm weather and the sight of growing things. The spring blooming bulbs also seem to be over-ready for the first warm days. As soon as bitter cold [...]